Abstract

Two types of representative nanometer materials, i.e., fibroid nanometer attapulgite and approximate spherical ultrafine diamond, were selected as fillers of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) to study the mechanism of the wear-reducing actions of the fillers in PTFE composites. The friction and wear tests were performed on a block-on-ring wear tester under dry sliding conditions. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to investigate material microstructure and to examine modes of failure. No significant change in coefficient of friction was found, but the wear rate of PTFE composites was orders of magnitude less than that of pure PTFE. DSC analysis revealed that nanometer attapulgite and ultrafine diamond played a heterogeneous nucleation role in PTFE matrix and consequently resulted in increasing the crystallinity of PTFE composites. Moreover, the PTFE composite with higher heat absorption capacity and crystallinity exhibited improved wear resistance. A propositional “sea-frusta” frictional model explained the wear mechanism of filler action in reducing the wear of PTFE polymer, i.e., fillers in the PTFE matrix effectively reduced the size of frictional broken units for PTFE composites and restrained the flowability of the units, as well as supporting the applied load. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.